Bears safety Jaquan Brisker's Packers trash talk game stronger than ever
The Bears have been on the wrong side of the rivalry for the better part of two decades, but the tide appears to be turning following their impressive win over the Packers last January. Quarterback Caleb Williams led a game-winning drive that resulted in a Cairo Santos' game-winning field goal.
During an appearance at Fanatics Fest back in June, Williams discussed why Packers fans "suck" and happily taunted how he's 1-0 at Lambeau Field. And it seems Packers offensive tackle Rasheed Walker didn't take too kindly to that remark.
"They got lucky," Walker said on Good Morning Football. "We're gonna remember he said that."
Then, in true Bears fashion, safety Jaquan Brisker had something to say about Walker's comments -- and it was akin to keep crying in your pillow.
"Awwwww it'll be okay," Brisker wrote on X. "I have a nice Bear for y'all, so y'all can sleep tight at night! It's a gift from me."
As for Walker's comments, it's actually the Packers who got lucky last season. The Bears (and Williams) should be 2-0 against Green Bay rather than 1-1, if not for a blocked Santos 46-yard field goal at Soldier Field in Week 11.
Now, with Johnson leading the charge, it's safe to say that this Bears-Packers rivalry is finally back on level footing -- and Green Bay is no longer a lock to beat Chicago.
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Yahoo
41 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Chicago Bears training camp: Takeaways from Week 1
The Chicago Bears kicked off training camp with their first practice on Wednesday and wrapped their first week with a session on Saturday ahead of a scheduled day off on Sunday. So far, there have been four productive days of practice that have taught us about where this Bears team is at this point -- and reminded us that it's too soon to start worrying about what's happening at the beginning of training camp. With the first week of training camp in the books, here's what we learned about the Bears so far, which includes no frustration with the offense's struggles, intriguing position battles, early standout rookies and the growing connection between quarterback Caleb Williams and a top target. Bears offense struggled early, but there's no frustration The Bears offense got off to a rough start during training camp, where there were notable struggles through the first three practices. The first day was littered with pre-snap issues, including the offense lining up incorrectly consecutive times during 7-on-7, which prompted head coach Ben Johnson to yell, "You're out!", and pull them out of the drill. While Johnson acknowledged there are going to be rough days, he's also not going to hold back if mistakes are repeatedly made. The second day featured issues with false starts and botched snaps while the third day featured back-to-back interceptions by Caleb Williams and the defense bringing the pressure. But even before Chicago turned things around on Day 4 -- their best day of camp far -- head coach Ben Johnson noted that there's no frustration at this point. 'We're not frustrated at all," Johnson said. "We're right where we need to be. In fact, I told the unit last night to see where they came from in the springtime to where we've been for three days. We're not having to coach alignment, we're not having to coach finish, we're not having to coach the standard. As you say, now we're coaching football. Now we're reading coverage and we're able to accumulate reps. Like I alluded to before, the beautiful thing about it is our guys, they're learning. We're notmaking the same mistake twice. Left tackle job is still wide open The most prominent position battle emerging at training camp is at left tackle between Braxton Jones, rookie Ozzy Trapilo and second-year pro Kiran Amegadjie. The Bears continued their rotation with the starters with Trapilo and Amegadjie as Jones continues to ramp up after missing the offseason program as he recovered from a fractured fibula. So far, it sounds like Trapilo has the upper hand on Amegadjie (both in performance and given Amegadjie left practice with an injury on Saturday). But it's worth noting that Jones was with the starting offense during install before team period as he ramps up. The real battle doesn't start until the pads come on, but head coach Ben Johnson discussed the importance of every rep in this three-man race. "That's why everything's going to matter," Johnson said. "Every play matters, it all is going to matter as we go through this thing. I can't tell you I've been through a three-man race before, so each play is going to be evaluated and they've got to take full advantage of each opportunity that they get." Other position battles There's no doubt that left tackle has emerged as the most important position battle of the summer, but there's plenty of competition at other positions. That includes backup quarterback, where veteran Case Keenum is trying to hold off third-year pro Tyson Bagent to serve as Caleb Williams' second in command. So far, it's been a pretty fair battle -- and preseason will serve as a good barometer in this competition. But Bagent did make waves on Friday with the third-team offense, which included three touchdowns during red zone work -- two easy scores to running back Roschon Johnson and receiver Samori Toure and "threading the needle" to running back Ian Wheeler for a touchdown, according to Greg Braggs, which was a great throw and catch. Elsewhere, there appears to be some competition brewing at cornerback opposite starter Jaylon Johnson. Tyrique Stevenson, who's been the starter for the past two seasons, appeared to be rotating with his draft mate Terell Smith during Saturday's practice, according to Herb Howard. Stevenson appeared to be in rotation with Smith with the first-team defense. Nashon Wright has been working in Johnson's place with him sidelined, which indicates he could have a good shot to earn a spot on the roster. There's also a battle for the third linebacker spot with Noah Sewell and fourth-round rookie Ruben Hyppolite II, where it appears Sewell has the advantage right now. Rookies are making waves We're just four days into training camp, but the rookies have already been making an impact through the first week. Two of the biggest standouts so far are running back Kyle Monangai and undrafted rookie receiver JP Richardson, who have been mentioned several times through four practices. Monangai was a standout player for Chicago during Thursday's practice, where he had a long run that included a juke move at the end to pick up some extra yards. According to Alex Shapiro, Monangai also got a little work with the first-team offense. Following Saturday's practice, Monangai was praised as having "really good feet and vision," per Herb Howard, and Clay Harbor noted that Monangai "has looked quicker than anticipated and like he belongs." Meanwhile, Richardson has been the real surprise, and he's certainly assuming the role as the annual fan-favorite training camp receiver through four days. During the first practice, Richardson had the play of the day with a one-handed reception deep down the sideline with a defensive back draped all over him. On Day 3, Courtney Cronin said Richardson made back-to-back catches during team periods with the third-team offense, and he's "put together a good three-day stretch" to open camp. Elsewhere, tight end Colston Loveland made his training camp debut during team period on Saturday, where he had three catches on the day, according to Adam Jahns, including two during 7-on-7 (one from Caleb Williams for a first down) and one during 11-on-11. Clay Harbor noted that Loveland "looked smooth" as he made some catches. Trapilo has also been making a strong case for the starting left tackle job, but there's still a long way to go in this battle -- and the real work begins when the pads come on. Caleb Williams, Rome Odunze connection thriving The Bears have high hopes for a potent duo of Caleb Williams and Rome Odunze, and the pair haven't disappointed through the first week of training camp. Despite the offense's early struggles, Williams and Odunze have been providing some of the bright spots on Days 3 and 4. Williams and Odunze continued to build their rapport in Year 2, which included a nice completion down the right sideline during Friday's team period, per Zack Pearson. During Saturday's practice -- the best for the offense so far -- Williams and Odunze capped the day with a touchdown during the two-minute drill, where "Williams threw a jump-ball touchdown to Rome Odunze" with Nashon Wright (playing in play of an injured Jaylon Johnson) in coverage. It's clear these second-year pros are furthering their connection, which could make for something special in Year 2. 'A year under our belt helps us continue to build that," Odunze said. "With the new offense, learning it together, having the knowledge of playing in the NFL season and having those games. Then putting that into this offense and building the connection that way is great too. Just not being two rookies, figure it out. We kind of have a little bit to base it off of.' Injury updates The Bears have a relatively short injury list through the first week of training camp, where there are two prominent players missing: Pro Bowl cornerback Jaylon Johnson and rookie wide receiver Luther Burden III. Johnson suffered a leg injury away from the team that has him on the Non-Football Injury list, and he's expected to miss a few weeks. Meanwhile, Chicago's second-round rookie wideout was expected to be ready at the start of camp, but Burden's lingering hamstring injury held him out of the first four practices. Still, Ben Johnson said "hopefully" Burden will make his training camp debut soon. Rookie defensive tackle Shemar Turner suffered an ankle injury on Day 1, which has held him out of the next three practices. Rookie cornerback Zah Frazier missed a couple of practices due to a personal reason. During Saturday's session, offensive tackle Kiran Amegadjie (who's competing for the starting left tackle job) and offensive lineman Doug Kramer both exited practice with apparent leg injuries. Follow Bears Wire on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram This article originally appeared on Bears Wire: Chicago Bears training camp: Takeaways from Week 1
Forbes
4 hours ago
- Forbes
The Green Bay Packers Have Tough Roster Decisions Ahead
Green Bay Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst will have some tough decisions when assembling the ... More 53-man roster. During Don Shula's first training camp with the Miami Dolphins in 1970, he implemented a four-a-day practice schedule. Yes, four-a-days. When Mike Sherman took over as Green Bay's coach in 2000, he held 51 practices his first summer. This year, Packers coach Matt LaFleur has 16 scheduled practices, and will likely have a couple of walkthroughs. The NFL world has changed dramatically in the last generation or two. And today's training camps are far softer and gentler than the ones of yesteryear. With so little time on the practice field, it's also tough for general managers like Green Bay's Brian Gutekunst to assemble a 53-man roster. 'Yeah, it's different,' said the 52-year old Gutekunst, who's been with the Packers since 1999. 'I think there's enough opportunities between now and when we have to make those decisions, but they've dwindled. You know, there's not as many.' Piecing together the roster will be Gutekunst's No. 1 task between now and Aug. 26, when teams must reduce rosters to a maximum of 53 players. Here's an early prediction of how the Packers' roster will look when they host Detroit in their season opener on Sept. (2) Keep: Jordan Love, Malik Willis. Cut: Sean Clifford, Taylor Elgersma. Analysis: There doesn't figure to be much drama here. Love is coming off an injury-plagued season where he threw 25 touchdowns, 11 interceptions and had a 96.7 passer rating. If the Packers are going to compete for a championship, Love needs to move from good to great. 'He's right where we need him to be,' Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst said of Love. 'Really excited for what he's going do for our football team this year.' Willis helped save the Packers' season last year going 2-0 in a pair of starts and rallying Green Bay past Jacksonville after Love left early in the third quarter. Willis finished the year completing 40-of-54 passes (74.1%) with three touchdowns and no interceptions. 'I can't emphasize how difficult of a situation he was put in a year ago in terms of being here less than three weeks and having to go start a football game,' LaFleur said of Willis. 'So to have a year under his belt, I think, I think will be extremely beneficial for him.' Clifford spent 2024 on the practice squad, but his time might be over. Elgersma, who was signed after rookie minicamp, could be a candidate for the practice Backs (4) Keep: Josh Jacobs, MarShawn Lloyd, Emanuel Wilson, Chris Brooks. Cut: Amar Johnson, Jalen White, Israel Abanikanda. Analysis: The Packers traditionally keep three players here, so we're going against the grain. But this is undoubtedly one of the better positional groups on the team. Jacobs, who finished sixth in the NFL in rushing yards last season (1,329) and had 16 total touchdowns, is one of the best in the game. Lloyd, a third round pick in 2024 who missed most of his rookie year due to injury, has flashed his 4.44 speed early in camp and will have a role if healthy. 'I think my speed is something they can use a lot,' Lloyd said. 'I think I have a specific skill set that the team likes.' Wilson ran for 502 yards last year and had five total touchdowns. And Brooks is certainly an NFL-caliber back who blocks every bit as well as he runs. Gutekunst could certainly cut either Brooks or Wilson, but the guess is he'll keep them both. Johnson is a prime candidate for the practice (6) Keep: Jayden Reed, Romeo Doubs, Matthew Golden, Savion Williams, Dontayvion Wicks, Mecole Hardman. Cut: Malik Heath, Julian Hicks, Cornelius Johnson, Sam Brown Jr., Will Sheppard. PUP list: Christian Watson (ACL). Analysis: This group will look dramatically different than a year ago with the additions of Golden and Williams in the draft, and potentially Hardman in free agency. Reed, Doubs and Wicks — three of last year's top four — all need to be better. Reed led the Packers in receptions (55) and yards (857) last year, but struggled with drops. Wicks led the team in targets (76), but was just fourth in receptions (39) and had the second-worst catch rate in football among wideouts (51.3%). The moody Doubs, who went AWOL and was suspended for a Week 5 game vs. the Rams, also suffered two concussions. He now faces a critical season in a contract year. Golden, the Packers' first round draft pick, has flashed early in camp. His 4.29 speed is simply different and his after-the-catch potential is tantalizing. 'He's going to be a speed threat right away,' Gutekunst said of Golden. 'He is one of those guys that covering him from a man perspective is going to be extremely tough on teams.' Williams is raw, but has rare size (6-4, 222) and could become a bigger factor as the year goes on. The final spot will likely come down to Hardman — a free agent signing in March — or Heath, a physical blocker who had just 10 catches last year. The bet here is on Hardman, who has 178 career catches, a Super Bowl ring and is still just Ends (3) Keep: Tucker Kraft, Luke Musgrave, Ben Sims. Cut: John FitzPatrick, Messiah Swinson, Johnny Lumpkin. Analysis: If you play fantasy football like much of the country, here's a little tip: be sure to get Tucker Kraft on your team. This could be Kraft's breakout year, following a season where he posted solid numbers (50 catches, 707 yards, seven TDs). He's been even better this summer and could lead Green Bay in many pass catching categories. 'I think he's just scratching the surface of what he's going to become,' Packers coach Matt LaFleur said of Kraft. 'And certainly we got to do a good job of giving him opportunities.' Musgrave, a second round draft pick in 2023, has missed 16 of a possible 34 games and needs to impress. Sims vs. FitzPatrick will be the toughest decision here. Sims is the better special teams player, though, giving him a leg up. Swinson is an intriguing player likely headed to the practice Line (9) Keep: LT Rasheed Walker, LG Aaron Banks, C Elgton Jenkins, RG Sean Rhyan, RT Zach Tom, T/G Jordan Morgan, T/G Anthony Belton, C/G Jacob Monk, T/G Kadeem Telfort. Cut: T/G Travis Glover, G/T John Williams, G Donovan Jennings, C Trey Hill, T Brant Banks, G Tyler Cooper, G J.J. Lippe. Analysis: This is a deep group and the Packers could certainly keep 10 here. Things will become much clearer once Jenkins — who is unhappy with his current contract is currently sidelined with a back injury — begins practicing. A potential starting five of Walker, Banks, Jenkins, Rhyan and Tom should form one of the better lines in football. Morgan, who is battling Walker for the left tackle job, and rookie second round pick Belton would provide terrific depth. Monk, a fifth round draft pick in 2024, could still be Green Bay's center of tomorrow. The massive Telfort (6-7, 322) didn't play from scrimmage last year, but contributed on special teams. Glover was abysmal when forced into duty in the Packers' playoff loss to Philadelphia. Jennings spent last year on the practice squad, and could move up with an impressive camp. Williams, a seventh round draft pick, is on the PUP list (back) and could be headed to the practice Ends (6) Keep: Rashan Gary, Lukas Van Ness, Kingsley Enagbare, Barryn Sorrell, Brenton Cox, Arron Mosby. Cut: Collin Oliver, Deslin Alexandre. Analysis: The Packers could choose to keep just five here, but after a season of inconsistency with the group, we're guessing they'll give themselves plenty of options. The top three of Gary, Van Ness and Enagbare are set. Gary had 7.5 sacks, nine tackles for loss and was named to his first Pro Bowl last season. Van Ness, a first round draft pick in 2023, has a lot to prove after a disappointing 2024 campaign (three sacks, six TFLs) that saw him hampered with a broken thumb. Enagbare is often overlooked, but had 4.5 sacks and forced two fumbles last year. Sorrell, a fourth round pick in April, has rushed some from the inside to begin camp and could provide some much-needed juice. Cox had four sacks in just seven games after the Packers traded Preston Smith last season. Mosby played 150 snaps in 16 games last year and will be squarely on the bubble. The undersized Oliver, a fifth round draft pick in April, is on the PUP list with a hamstring injury. Green Bay could try sneaking him onto the practice Tackles (5) Keep: Kenny Clark, Devonte Wyatt, Karl Brooks, Colby Wooden, Warren Brinson. Cut: Nazir Stackhouse, James Ester, Keith Randolph. Analysis: Clark hopes to rebound from a down year where he was plagued by a foot injury and had just one sack and five quarterback hits. 'It was tough man,' Clark said. 'It was a tough year for me.' Wyatt finished second on the team in sacks (5.0), quarterback hits (9.0) and tackles for loss (9.0) last season, despite missing three games with an ankle injury. Wyatt's snaps should go up with T.J. Slaton now in Cincinnati, and he could be poised for a breakout season. 'My standard is really high,' Wyatt said. 'I want to be one of the top defensive linemen in the league. That's the biggest key for me, just staying healthy man.' Brooks and Wooden, who both came in the 2023 draft, have been solid backups. The toughest decision figures to be Brinson vs. Stackhouse. Give Brinson the edge, though, since he was drafted in the sixth round in April and could likely provide more help on special (5) Veterans: Edgerrin Cooper, Quay Walker, Isaiah McDuffie, Ty'Ron Hopper, Isaiah Simmons. Cut: Kristian Welch, Jamon Johnson. Analysis: This is one of the deepest groups on the roster, so don't rule out a trade if the Packers need help somewhere else. Cooper, who led all NFL linebackers and all rookies with 13 tackles for loss in 2024, seems ready for stardom. Walker has led the Packers in tackles each of his first three seasons, but the team opted not to pick up his fifth-year option. McDuffie, who re-signed with Green Bay for two years, $8 million this offseason, had a career-best 94 tackles last year. The player to watch closely is Simmons, the 10th overall pick in the 2020 draft who had disappointing stints in Arizona and with the New York Giants. Simmons has rare athleticism, though, and could carve out a role for himself. 'I mean, you see him,' LaFleur said of Simmons. 'There's a reason he was a top-10 pick. He's got all the measurables, and it's just getting him acclimated with our system and knowing what he can do and try to put him in some advantageous positions where he can really showcase his talent.' Hopper, a third round pick in 2024, should be ready for more after posting just five tackles as a rookie. Welch, a special teams standout, is plenty good enough to play in the league. It just might be somewhere (5) Veterans: Keisean Nixon, Nate Hobbs, Carrington Valentine, Bo Melton, Micah Robinson. Cut: Kalen King, Isaiah Dunn, Gregory Junior, Kamal Hadden, Johnathan Baldwin, Tyron Herring, Garnett Hollis. Analysis: This group could use some help. The Packers should be OK with their top three of Nixon, Hobbs and Valentine. Nixon was the only defensive back in football and one of just five players to have three-plus sacks, three-plus forced fumbles and an interception last year. While he's not a true No. 1 corner, he's as feisty as they come and appears to still be ascending in Year 7. Hobbs, a free agent signing in March, has been better than advertised early in camp. Hobbs was primarily the slot corner in Las Vegas, but looks like a keeper on the perimeter. 'I've given myself an opportunity to come in and be the best version of myself,' Hobbs said. 'There's expectations, but it's a clear start.' Valentine started the final seven games for an injured Jaire Alexander last season and played well. He finished the season with two interceptions, two forced fumbles and five passes defensed. The Packers have moved Melton from wide receiver to cornerback. And while a positional change typically is a death knell for a veteran player, Melton might have a shot to make this work. Melton ran a 4.34 40-yard dash coming out of Rutgers. His vertical jump was 38-inches, his broad jump was 10-1, and he's impressed early in training camp. 'He's one of those guys that, from the time we scouted him coming out of college, we thought he had that kind of ability,' Gutekunst said of Melton playing cornerback. 'When we brought him here, it was something we had in the back of our minds, that hey, this might be something we could do with Bo.' Robinson was a seventh round draft pick in April and King was a seventh rounder in 2024. The preseason games and joint practices will go a long ways in determining if they stay or go. Also, don't be surprised if Gutekunst makes a trade here or finds another corner off the waiver (5) Keep: Xavier McKinney, Evan Williams, Javon Bullard, Zayne Anderson, Kitan Oladapo. Cut: Omar Brown, Kahzir Brown. Analysis: Things are pretty cut and dried here. McKinney (eight interceptions in 2024) is among the best in the game. Williams is an emerging player who was named to the Professional Football Writers of America (PFWA) All-Rookie team after an impressive first season. 'There were moments last year where I felt confident in my play and I was making plays on the field,' Williams said. 'But it's just being able to do that consistently. If you can't do it consistently it really doesn't matter.' Bullard had an up and down rookie year, but looks like the front-runner to win the nickel job. Anderson is an extremely reliable veteran and a special teams standout. Oladapo had a quiet rookie season, but has upside. Brown, who was undrafted, is a good bet for the practice (3) Keep: K Brandon McManus, P Daniel Whelan, LS Matt Orzech. Cut: K Mark McNamee Analysis: This positional group is about as close to settled as you'll find in July. McManus saved Green Bay's kicking game last season after replacing Brayden Narveson in mid-October. McManus made 20-of-21 field goals during the regular season (95.2%), the best percentage of his 11-year career and the second-best in team history. He also made all 30 of his extra points. Whelan ranked 26th in both gross (46.1) and net yardage (40.2), but is the only punter in camp. Orzech is steady and it doesn't appear as he'll be challenged this summer.
USA Today
5 hours ago
- USA Today
Lions standout Alex Anzalone named Top-10 linebacker by former NFL LB
The Lions undoubtedly feel very good about their trio of linebackers in Alex Anzalone, Jack Campbell and Derrick Barnes. They certainly feel excellent about the first name on that list. Anzalone has become a key leader of not only the defense, but the entire team, being a key component of the Lions turnaround into a Super Bowl contender. Anzalone has also been getting love from the media as one of the better linebackers in the league. A recent example comes from former NFL linebacker and current contributor to Good Morning Football, Manti Te'o. The former Chargers, Saints and Bears linebacker recently named his top ten linebackers in the NFL and Anzalone came in at No. 6 on the list. Before Anzalone's forearm injury, he had 63 tackles in ten games. In four seasons with the Lions, Anzalone has racked up 123 tackles, four sacks and three fumble recoveries. The five linebackers Te'o placed above Anzalone were Bobby Wagner (Commanders), Fred Warner (49ers), Dre Greenlaw (Broncos), Lavonte David (Buccaneers) and Roquan Smith (Ravens). Rounding out his top ten were Zack Baun (Eagles), Nick Bolton (Chiefs), Denzel Perryman (Chargers) and Frankie Luvu (Commanders).
